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Tour de France 2013 Discussion
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 2013-06-11 9:51 AM |
 Austin, Texas or Jupiter, Florida |  Subject: Tour de France 2013 DiscussionSo the TdF starts in 18 days on the island of Corsica (Napoleon's Birthplace which was actually Italian at the time). I predict the shortest rider on tour will win the opening stage... Other than that, I predict this will be a snoozer compared to some of the other races we've seen this season. The Giro, although weather-impacted was pretty exciting and the winner uncertain until the last few stages. What story lines are you interested in? Wiggo is out, Froome presumably takes the lead on that team. TJVG and Cuddles have to figure out their place on the team as one of you guys so accurately put it, it'll be decided for them by the mountains. Anyone have any good predictions? Here are Bicycling Magazine's predictions. http://www.bicycling.com/tour-de-france/expert-analysis/tour-de-fra... |
| 2013-06-12 5:00 PM in reply to: 0 |
Pro  4578   Vancouver, BC | Subject: RE: Tour de France 2013 Discussion I'm not sure that there's been more than one Canadian in the tour at any given time, and there will be at least one and likely three this year, http://velonews.competitor.com/2013/06/news/canadas-veilleux-secures-tour-start-for-europcar_290589, so there's that. The Tour overlaps with Superweek here in BC which both Veilleux and Tuft have raced. It looks like they won't be this year. My SO is kind of happy that he doesn't have to race them. Edited by jeng 2013-06-12 5:01 PM |
| 2013-06-18 9:35 PM in reply to: GomesBolt |
| Subject: RE: Tour de France 2013 Discussion I think the green jersey is basically a lock for Sagan. I don't see any other sprinter winning more stages and Sagan can also scoop up some additional points on the medium mountain stages because he's a pretty decent climber and has proven he can win from a bunch sprint as well as a breakaway. It's hard to bet against Froome for yellow especially when you consider how strong Sky has looked. Richie Port may be the Chris Froome of 2012. Maybe not a 2nd place finish...but he may have a shot at top 5 or 10. Nibali looks like he was the only one to possibly challenge Froome at this point, but he's not racing the TdF this year...bummer. Contador hasn't looked great yet, but maybe that's on purpose. Andy still isn't himself. TJ and Evans will be in the mix, but have looked up and down at times. All that said, you just never know. I'm just hoping for more fireworks in the mountains this year. Last year it seemed that Nibali and Evans were resigned to racing for 3rd and didn't make the bold moves they needed to win. Easy for me to say on my couch though... |
| 2013-06-20 6:07 AM in reply to: 0 |
Pro 5892  , New Hampshire | Subject: RE: Tour de France 2013 Discussion I would agree that Sagan should have a good shot at the green jersey, but it will really depend on how Cavendish rides during the stages... the intermediate sprint points really do add up and Sagan will have an advantage in the more rolling terrain. If Omega Pharma gets a good lead out training going, I don't think anyone can challenge Cavendish though.. Cavendish needs to win the stages, so he's more vulnerable to the form of the other sprinters and the lead out train. Sagan needs to be consistent in his sprinting and capture the intermediate sprint points. If they do that, it'll be a tough battle with no other sprinter in sight... Overall, I think we'll see some surprises as usual (there's always a few rides on the top 10 that you didn't expect) and this years TdF favors the breakaway riders, so you may have a few drastic changes to the overall. Froome does look strong, but don't count out Evans/Tejay (BMC), Contador may not have been that impressive this year, but I would never bet against him... Rodriguez (Katusha) can be a real contender unless he loses too much time in the TT's, he has a tendency to have one bad day though, which can cost you a lot of time in a hurry... Voeckler will be attacking as usual, which can favor him this year... Thibault Pinot (FDJ) can deliver results and with this being the 100th TdF, all French riders will have an extra level of inspiration... dark horse, yes, but again, you never know... Blanco (which will be renamed Belkin) with Bauke Mollema and Robert Gesink may very well perform well as well... Ten Dam is very strong climber as well, but should be in the support role. KOM is so wide open that I can't even start to speculate... This is probably one of the more open TdF's in years. Should be an exciting few weeks! Edited by audiojan 2013-06-20 6:09 AM |
| 2013-06-21 1:50 PM in reply to: audiojan |
| Subject: RE: Tour de France 2013 Discussion You're right about Cav. He hasn't raced head to head against Sagan (to my knowledge) since changing teams. My lasting memory is how Sagan seemed to scoop up way more points but that could change now that Cav's not riding for a team where the GC is the only priority. Anytime you want to see who's favored in any event, you just need to go to the sportsbook and sure enough...Cav and Sagan are considered even money bets...so they think it's a toss up. As for the GC...Froome is a ridiculous favorite...better than 50/50 odds in their minds with Richie Porte being the 4th highest favorite. I think that's a testement to how strong they think the Sky team is overall. Not so much they think that Froome will win and Porte will also be top 5 (it could happen), but that if Froome struggles or crashes, that Porte is strong enough to take over the GC leader role for Sky and give he'll have a chance considering how strong the rest of the team is. You just don't see that type of support for Contador from Saxo. BMC's team looks strong...but not as strong as Sky. |
| 2013-06-28 5:56 AM in reply to: Jason N |
Expert 4628 Middle River, Maryland Silver member | Subject: RE: Tour de France 2013 Discussion |
| 2013-06-28 3:35 PM in reply to: jmhpsu93 |
Master 2629 brummie land | Subject: RE: Tour de France 2013 Discussion Cav for green; that british road champ jersey with the rainbow stripes is pure class! I want lovely fabulous tommy voeckler to do something fabulous. Thinking the polish lad for the white jersey and bugger knows for polka dot. Think froome will win yellow but almost hope he doesn't as team sky a so f*****g dull! Having said that, rather froome win than some doping idiot like contador.....he makes me angry! |
| 2013-06-30 1:38 AM in reply to: sappho96 |
Veteran 512 Tempe, Arizona | Subject: RE: Tour de France 2013 Discussion Jens "shut up legs" Voigt in the breakaways, and hopefully in it for a stage win. That would be so sweet in what might be his last TdF  He gives hope to us 40-year-old cyclists. I loved this BBC piece about his a few days ago http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/cycling/22931755 |
| 2013-06-30 7:31 AM in reply to: 0 |
Champion 7821 Brooklyn, NY | Subject: RE: Tour de France 2013 Discussion FromTwitter: Here's Orica-GreenEDGE's temporary new bus. http://twitter.com/dwuori/status/351314923193782272/photo/1 Edited by jmk-brooklyn 2013-06-30 7:32 AM |
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